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[ EDITORIAL ]

Harold Maready Investigation: Kisses Of Ignorance

Published: Tuesday, November 19, 2013 at 12:01 a.m.

Last Modified: Monday, November 18, 2013 at 11:29 p.m.

The Schools of McKeel Academy's board of directors has done something that goes directly against the charter system's educational mission: It has made itself ignorant. In its meeting Wednesday, the board ignored the findings of an investigation of Superintendent Harold Maready, commissioned on its behalf by board Chair Taylor Caffey.

Part 2 of 2

Stuart Charlson, head of the HR for Business — ConsultStu firm of St. Petersburg, is the human resources consultant and trainer hired by Caffey to investigate a grievance and a complaint letter about Maready.

Dan Backes, assistant principal for McKeel Academy of Technology, filed the grievance in September. An unsigned "former McKeel teacher" sent in an undated letter of complaint.

In a meeting of the board of trustees on Wednesday, member Mark Thompson said: "As a board member, my first hurdle is, 'Has a law been violated?' And our counsel is telling us a law has not been violated."

Many of us may wish that not breaking the law would be sufficient for us to be retained in our jobs, but that is neither realistic nor appropriate.

By taking no action, the board is blowing Maready kisses, and furthering indignity toward staff.

TAKE REPORT SERIOUSLY

Indeed, the board of trustees wilfully made itself ignorant of the report.

Consider Charlson's findings:

■ During a Sept. 16 administrators' meeting, Maready told Backes he was “fired” for saying an annual teachers' conference should be held at the schools, rather than at a beachside resort, to save money. Substantiated.

■ Backes said Maready threatened his job in his two most recent performance reviews and humiliated him in front of his boss. Charlson concluded that Backes has been unhappy since being moved from South McKeel Academy to McKeel Academy of Technology during juggling of personnel. Charlson said Maready's manner is stern and a statement that Backes is “the worst administrator McKeel has ever hired” would be consistent with his style. Partially substantiated.

■ Maready makes comments to employees about their appearance and dress, including weight, hair and makeup. (This item and the following come from the complaint letter.) Substantiated.

■ Maready yells, belittles and makes unreasonable demands. Charlson said interviews show that, when upset, Maready speaks and writes emails in a threatening tone. At other times, Maready is supportive, he said. Partially substantiated.

■ Maready micromanages at the school level, limiting administrators' power. Charlson said this is complicated, and interviews did not support this contention for South McKeel Academy or McKeel Academy Central. Interviews, however, revealed that, as former principal and with its grade dropping from A to B, Maready treats McKeel Academy of Technology differently. Many employees said it is “Maready's way or the highway, and he makes the decisions.” Partially substantiated.

■ Maready fosters an environment in which staff is uncomfortable discussing concerns and disagreement about decisions. Substantiated.

■ At the January 2013 FETC — Florida Education Technology Conference — in Orlando, Maready walked up to teacher Robert Gandy and tapped him in the groin, and told Gandy “he only missed because his [penis] was too small.” Substantiated.

Additionally, Charlson found that Maready required administrators to write contribution checks to the campaign of state Sen. Kelli Stargel, R-Lakeland. Her husband, Circuit Judge John Stargel, is a member of the McKeel board of trustees.

ACTION REQUIRED

Charlson's 14-page report fleshes out each item with extensive details from interviewing employees. It must not be ignored further by McKeel's board.

The board of trustees must hold a new meeting, with an agenda focused strictly on the results of the report and resolving Maready's behavioral problems, whether through strict limitations and further review, or dismissal.

It should refer Charlson's finding of campaign-contribution coercion to State Attorney Jerry Hill for legal consideration and so it can be resolved with authority.

<p>The Schools of McKeel Academy's board of directors has done something that goes directly against the charter system's educational mission: It has made itself ignorant. In its meeting Wednesday, the board ignored the findings of an investigation of Superintendent Harold Maready, commissioned on its behalf by board Chair Taylor Caffey.</p><p><center><i></p><p>Part 2 of 2</p><p></center></i></p><p>Stuart Charlson, head of the HR for Business — ConsultStu firm of St. Petersburg, is the human resources consultant and trainer hired by Caffey to investigate a grievance and a complaint letter about Maready.</p><p>Dan Backes, assistant principal for McKeel Academy of Technology, filed the grievance in September. An unsigned "former McKeel teacher" sent in an undated letter of complaint.</p><p>In a meeting of the board of trustees on Wednesday, member Mark Thompson said: "As a board member, my first hurdle is, 'Has a law been violated?' And our counsel is telling us a law has not been violated."</p><p>Many of us may wish that not breaking the law would be sufficient for us to be retained in our jobs, but that is neither realistic nor appropriate.</p><p>By taking no action, the board is blowing Maready kisses, and furthering indignity toward staff.</p><p><b></p><p>TAKE REPORT SERIOUSLY</b></p><p>Indeed, the board of trustees wilfully made itself ignorant of the report.</p><p>Consider Charlson's findings:</p><p>■ During a Sept. 16 administrators' meeting, Maready told Backes he was “fired” for saying an annual teachers' conference should be held at the schools, rather than at a beachside resort, to save money. <b>Substantiated.</b></p><p>■ Backes said Maready threatened his job in his two most recent performance reviews and humiliated him in front of his boss. Charlson concluded that Backes has been unhappy since being moved from South McKeel Academy to McKeel Academy of Technology during juggling of personnel. Charlson said Maready's manner is stern and a statement that Backes is “the worst administrator McKeel has ever hired” would be consistent with his style.<b> Partially substantiated.</b></p><p>■ Maready makes comments to employees about their appearance and dress, including weight, hair and makeup. (This item and the following come from the complaint letter.) <b>Substantiated.</b></p><p>■ Maready yells, belittles and makes unreasonable demands. Charlson said interviews show that, when upset, Maready speaks and writes emails in a threatening tone. At other times, Maready is supportive, he said. <b>Partially substantiated.</b></p><p>■ Maready micromanages at the school level, limiting administrators' power. Charlson said this is complicated, and interviews did not support this contention for South McKeel Academy or McKeel Academy Central. Interviews, however, revealed that, as former principal and with its grade dropping from A to B, Maready treats McKeel Academy of Technology differently. Many employees said it is “Maready's way or the highway, and he makes the decisions.” <b>Partially substantiated.</b></p><p>■ Maready shows favoritism toward staff “buddies” and bends policies. <b>Substantiated.</b></p><p>■ Maready fosters an environment in which staff is uncomfortable discussing concerns and disagreement about decisions. <b>Substantiated.</b></p><p>■ At the January 2013 FETC — Florida Education Technology Conference — in Orlando, Maready walked up to teacher Robert Gandy and tapped him in the groin, and told Gandy “he only missed because his [penis] was too small.” <b>Substantiated.</b></p><p>Additionally, Charlson found that Maready required administrators to write contribution checks to the campaign of state Sen. Kelli Stargel, R-Lakeland. Her husband, Circuit Judge John Stargel, is a member of the McKeel board of trustees.</p><p><b></p><p>ACTION REQUIRED</b></p><p>Charlson's 14-page report fleshes out each item with extensive details from interviewing employees. It must not be ignored further by McKeel's board.</p><p>The board of trustees must hold a new meeting, with an agenda focused strictly on the results of the report and resolving Maready's behavioral problems, whether through strict limitations and further review, or dismissal.</p><p>It should refer Charlson's finding of campaign-contribution coercion to State Attorney Jerry Hill for legal consideration and so it can be resolved with authority.</p>